You indicated you have found a Bluejay

What to Do

Protect yourself

Wear gloves. A net is very useful for capturing animals that will try to flee or fly.

Prepare a container

A shoebox with air holes in the lid, lined with a small cloth or paper towel works for most songbirds.

Put the bird in the box.

Cover the bird with a light cloth and gently put it in the box or crate.

Keep it warm

If the bird is cold, put one end of the shoebox on a towel over a heating pad set on low. You can also warm up a water bottle and wrap it with a towel to provide warmth. Make sure the bottle is secure and will not roll onto the animal.

If you can’t transport it immediately:

• Keep the bird in a warm, dark, quiet place.
• Do not give it food or water. Feeding an animal an incorrect diet can result in injury or death. Also, a captured animal will get food and water stuck in its fur/feathers potentially leading to discomfort and hypothermia.
• Do not handle it. Leave the animal alone. Remember human noise, touch and eye contact are very stressful to wild animals.
• Keep children and pets away from it.

Transport the bird

Transport the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator or to Tufts Wildlife Clinic during clinic hours M-F 8am-5pm and Sat, Sun, & Holidays 9am-5pm.

During transport, keep the bird in the box or crate, keep the car quiet (radio off).